Rolando McClain’s time almost up (finally)

March 12 is the first date of the new fiscal year in the NFL, and all indications are that’s when Raiders fans will finally get the answer to the most-asked question the last four months:

“When is Oakland finally going to cut Rolando McClain?”

The middle linebacker was suspended by the Raiders for two games last November for conduct detrimental to the team, and then didn’t play in the last three games. (McClain was further punished by having to be the scout-team running back in practice.) McClain, the team’s first-round pick in 2010, wasn’t cut then only due to salary cap reasons, general manager Reggie McKenzie said in January.

But now it makes sense, as on March 12, the Raiders can cut him and spread out the $7.26 million dead-money salary-cap hit over two seasons.

McClain, meanwhile, was arrested in January in his latest brush with the law. Even if he was a model citizen, he has looked slow, had a hard time getting off blocks and was victimized in pass coverage on the playing field. In 41 career games with Oakland, McClain only had 6½ sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, no fumble recoveries and did little to help improve Oakland’s struggling run defense.

McClain could have avoided getting arrested in January by simply signing his name to a citation for overly dark window tint. But instead, he signed it as “(Expletive) y’all,” Decatur (Ala.) police said, and when given a chance to change it, he said that was his name. Officers arrested the former Alabama star on a charge of giving a false name to law enforcement.

In November 2011, McClain was arrested in Decatur, where he went to high school, on assault charges. He was found guilty in municipal court of firing shots by someone’s head. The charges were later dismissed on appeal to Morgan County circuit clerk when the victim, Rishard Tapscott, told prosecutors he no longer wanted to pursue the case.

Journeyman Omar Gaither started in McClain’s absence and might get a look next season. The Raiders could also sign a free agent, draft a middle linebacker or slide Miles Burris over from outside linebacker to replace their biggest draft bust — the eighth overall pick in 2010 — not named JaMarcus Russell.